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Buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic - 18.01.2026., Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, Japan Buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic - 18.01.2026., Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, Japan

FESTIVAL

GMO Sonic

Makuhari Event Hall, Chiba, JP
18. January 2026. 11:00h
2026
18
January
Photo by: Domagoj Skledar/ arhiva (vlastita)
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Tickets for GMO Sonic 2026 at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba – one day passes for winter electronic festival

Buy tickets for GMO Sonic 2026 at Makuhari Event Hall in Chiba, Japan, and secure a one day winter electronic music festival experience with top international DJs in a huge indoor arena by the bay. This page is dedicated to easy and safe ticket purchase for the event on 18 January 2026 in the city of Chiba
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GMO Sonic 2026 in Chiba: the winter epicenter of electronic music

GMO Sonic 2026 returns to Japan’s music map as one of the most exciting winter electronic music festivals, and this year it moves to Makuhari Event Hall within the Makuhari Messe complex in the city of Chiba. It’s a major two-day festival, but this article focuses on the Sunday, January 18, 2026, when the program starts as early as 11:00 and runs into the late evening—ideal for those who want to make the most of a one-day ticket. The atmosphere of GMO Sonic blends a contemporary Japanese sensibility for technology, precise organization, and a passion for dance music, which is why ticket demand is exceptionally high among local audiences and visitors from all over the world. The winter date, indoor venue, and focus on top-tier global DJs make this festival a perfect escape from the cold, as Makuhari Event Hall turns into a giant dome-covered club space. If you’re already thinking about going, it’s important to know that the ticket you buy is valid for one day, so it’s smart to decide in advance whether you want Saturday or Sunday—and Sunday, January 18, 2026, delivers an especially powerful finale for all electronic music lovers. Secure your tickets for this event right away and get ready for a day filled with music, light effects, and incredible energy, because buying tickets via the button below is the best way to make sure you don’t miss this winter highlight of the festival season.

A two-day festival with an emphasis on Sunday and one-day tickets

GMO Sonic 2026 is designed as a two-day festival, with a program spanning January 17 and 18, 2026, but many visitors intentionally choose just one day to build an ideal schedule around their own musical taste. A ticket valid for January 18, 2026 allows you entry from 11:00 and lets you stay for all performances scheduled for that day—from early afternoon sets to the main headliners in the evening—so every hour is packed with music and a visual spectacle. The day format also has a practical advantage: you can carefully plan your arrival, food breaks, shopping in nearby centers, and return to your accommodation, knowing that your ticket covers exactly this specific festival day. Since the festival attracts an international audience, one-day tickets are often the first choice for those combining GMO Sonic with a shorter winter trip to Tokyo or Chiba, which further accelerates ticket sales for certain dates. Tickets for January 18 are especially in demand because many want to wrap up their stay with the festival’s big finale, so don’t wait until the last moment—buy tickets in time and secure your perfect festival day.

A lineup of world DJ stars and a diverse music program

What sets GMO Sonic apart from other winter events in the region is its impressive lineup of world DJ stars that draws electronic music fans from across the globe. In recent editions’ programs and announcements for 2026, names like Marshmello, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Tiësto, and Dom Dolla stand out, alongside support from a growing number of artists from Japan and the rest of Asia. That combination brings a mix of styles—from mainstream EDM and big room sound, through melodic sets and future house, to trap and hip-hop elements brought to the stage by guests like GloRille, while the J-pop group JO1 attracts a younger audience that, along with dance music, also follows current trends in Japanese pop culture. The festival’s Sunday is conceived as the culmination of the entire weekend, so the program is built to gradually raise the tempo, with evening time slots reserved for the biggest stars and the most massive singalong moments. That’s exactly why tickets for this event become more sought after as the lineup is filled with additional names, and Sunday tickets are often the first to disappear from online carts. Tickets for this festival sell out fast, so buy tickets in time and get ready for an all-day music marathon at Makuhari Event Hall.
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Production, visual effects, and the festival experience in an indoor arena

From the start, GMO Sonic has built its identity on spectacular production: massive LED screens, laser shows, pyrotechnics, confetti, and carefully programmed visual content are synchronized with the music so that each track becomes a small stage performance. In an indoor arena like Makuhari Event Hall, that effect is even more pronounced, because light beams and projections completely fill the space, while the powerful sound system ensures every drop is felt physically. The organizers traditionally work with production teams experienced with major festivals and stadiums, which means visitors can expect a top-tier experience whether they’re in the front rows, in the stands, or on the central floor. For many fans, it’s precisely the fusion of sound and light that motivates them to buy tickets for GMO Sonic year after year, because each season the festival tries to raise the bar with new stage installations and special effects. If you love the feel of a big club on a festival scale, tickets for this event will bring you an experience that’s rarely found in the winter months—so it’s a good idea to secure your spot in advance and avoid disappointment due to sold-out tickets in the final weeks before the festival.

Makuhari Event Hall and Makuhari Messe: a venue designed for major events

Makuhari Event Hall is located within one of Japan’s best-known convention and exhibition complexes, Makuhari Messe, situated in the Mihama-ku district of the city of Chiba. This multi-purpose domed arena can host up to several thousand visitors, and thanks to a flexible layout of stands and floor space, it can be adapted for concerts, sporting events, ceremonies, and, of course, electronic music festivals. For GMO Sonic 2026, the space transforms into a huge dance floor with the stage on one side of the hall, while the stands serve as additional viewing areas with an excellent view of the stage. The Makuhari Messe complex itself is known for modern architecture and a clearly organized system of entrances, cloakrooms, and service zones, which significantly eases movement for large numbers of visitors during entry and exit from the festival. When you buy tickets for this event, you can count on moving through a venue accustomed to large-scale happenings and optimized precisely for such massive programs. For the full festival experience, it’s great to study the hall plan in advance and consider whether you’ll spend more time closer to the stage or in the stands, while you can learn about accommodation near the venue via accommodation near the venue, which is especially practical if you plan to stay until the very end of the night.

Chiba and Makuhari: a modern bay hub near Tokyo

Makuhari is part of the city of Chiba, built on reclaimed land along the coast of Tokyo Bay, and is known for wide avenues, futuristic architecture, and a network of elevated pedestrian walkways connecting shopping centers, office buildings, and the convention complex. That very blend of business and entertainment makes it an ideal host for big festivals like GMO Sonic, because alongside the music program visitors have numerous shops, restaurants, and cafés available in the immediate vicinity of the venue. Chiba is located not far from Tokyo, and Makuhari is excellently connected by rail lines to the capital, which means many visitors combine their festival stay with sightseeing in Tokyo or a trip to a nearby entertainment complex. Since this is an attractive and popular area, it’s wise to book a hotel or apartment in advance and check accommodation offers in Makuhari and Chiba, so that your festival ticket is complemented by a comfortable and practical stay. The very fact that GMO Sonic takes place in this part of Japan further increases its value as an experience, because it blends top-tier music with an urban backdrop recognizable from postcards and travel guides.
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Date, time, and ticket duration for January 18, 2026

For visitors targeting the Sunday of GMO Sonic specifically, it’s crucial to remember the exact schedule: January 18, 2026, starting at 11:00. A one-day ticket for this date covers the entire program taking place that day, which means from the morning opening of the gates all the way to the end of the last headliner you have the right to remain in the hall and the accompanying zones of the Makuhari Messe complex. This ticket structure provides flexibility—some visitors choose to arrive earlier to avoid crowds at the entrance, try the food and drink offerings, or browse the merch shops, while others arrive later, aiming for the evening performances by the best-known artists. It’s important to emphasize that the ticket is valid for one day, so it cannot be used for entry to the Saturday program as well, and therefore when purchasing it’s essential to carefully select the exact date for which you want tickets. Given the strong interest and the fact that this is the festival’s final day, ticket sales for January 18, 2026 are especially dynamic, so it’s smart to act in time. Secure your tickets for this event right away, because buying tickets in advance is the best way to plan the rest of your trip stress-free and enjoy the festival.

Getting to Makuhari Event Hall and finding your way around the venue

Makuhari Event Hall is located in close proximity to Kaihimmakuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line, making it easily accessible both from central Tokyo and from other parts of the region. Train travel is often the fastest and most reliable choice, as Japan’s rail system is known for punctuality and a dense network of lines linking key points around Tokyo Bay. Upon arrival at the station, clearly marked signs and spacious walkways guide visitors toward Makuhari Messe, and in any case it’s enough to follow the crowd heading in the same direction wearing festival wristbands, shirts, and other details. It’s important to have your tickets ready for scanning upon arrival, because that speeds up passage through control and reduces waiting in lines, especially in the morning at 11:00 when the doors open for the first time. Within the complex there are cloakrooms, restrooms, info desks, and a food-and-drink zone, so it’s advisable to take a quick walk around as soon as you enter and choose your ideal spot for watching performances. By planning your arrival and getting familiar with the space in advance, you make the most of your day ticket and ensure a comfortable experience from the first to the last performance.

Accommodation, food, and free time around the festival

One of the reasons many choose GMO Sonic is the fact that the festival takes place in an area rich in hotels, restaurants, and entertainment options, making the stay easy to organize. Within a few minutes’ walk of Makuhari Event Hall there are numerous hotels of different categories, shopping centers with restaurants and cafés, as well as attractions for those who want to use their free time before or after the festival day. If you’re planning a trip from abroad or another part of Japan, it’s recommended that when buying tickets you also check accommodation for event visitors and book a room near the venue, so your return after late-evening performances is as simple as possible. Many visitors combine their day ticket for January 18 with an extra day to explore Chiba or a quick trip into Tokyo, so it’s practical to set Makuhari as your base. In addition, nearby restaurants often prepare special offers or extend their opening hours during major events, so the festival atmosphere is joined by the city buzz you can feel on the streets and in the venues around the hall.
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GMO Sonic over the years: from new editions to the big stage in Makuhari

GMO Sonic is a relatively young but rapidly growing electronic music festival that has quickly won over both domestic and international audiences. Previous editions of the festival were held in legendary venues such as Saitama Super Arena, where artists like Skrillex and ROSÉ performed, showing even in its early years the festival’s ambition to bring the biggest global names. Over time, the GMO Sonic concept has been expanded, with ever more lavish production and an ever wider spectrum of performers—from EDM veterans to new pop and hip-hop stars topping the charts. Moving the program to Makuhari Messe and Makuhari Event Hall for the 2026 edition is a logical step in the festival’s growth, because this complex provides enough space, infrastructure, and logistical support for an even larger number of visitors. Each year, interest in tickets grows, and ticket sales start earlier and earlier, which is a clear signal that GMO Sonic has outgrown the status of a regular concert weekend and become an important event on the winter festival calendar. Buying tickets for January 18, 2026 therefore doesn’t mean just going to one day of music, but also stepping into the story of a festival that year after year builds a reputation as one of the most exciting winter events in Japan.

The audience, atmosphere, and the distinctiveness of Japanese festival culture

A special charm of GMO Sonic is the audience that comes to Makuhari from different parts of Japan as well as from many other countries, blending local festival culture with the global EDM scene. Japanese fans are known for respecting rules and order while also reacting passionately to their favorite artists, so in the stands and on the floor you can see plenty of glowing props, creative outfits, and handmade banners. In such an environment, a one-day ticket for January 18, 2026 gives you a sense of community and belonging, even if it’s your first time at the festival or your first time visiting Japan. The organizers also pay close attention to safety and comfort, with clearly marked help zones, staff guiding the crowd, and rules of conduct communicated to visitors in advance. For many, it’s exactly this combination of a passionate yet disciplined audience that’s why they return year after year, buy new tickets, and bring friends who are discovering GMO Sonic for the first time. When you secure your tickets in time, you join a community of fans who don’t experience this festival merely as a concert, but as a special collective experience.

How to make the most of a one-day ticket for January 18

To get the maximum experience from a one-day ticket for January 18, 2026, it’s good to plan the basics in advance: which artists you don’t want to miss, when you’ll take a meal break, and where you want to be during the biggest evening performances. The recommendation is to arrive earlier, as soon as the doors open at 11:00, so you can calmly pass ticket control, find the cloakroom, and familiarize yourself with the hall layout, which will later make moving around in the crowd much easier. It’s also worth studying the daily timetable that the organizers publish before the festival, so you know what time your favorites take the stage and how their sets flow into one another. Don’t forget practical things: comfortable shoes, a charger or power bank, enough water, and an agreement with friends on where you’ll meet if you get separated in the crowd. Tickets for this concert sell out fast, so buy tickets in time and turn Sunday, January 18, 2026, into a day you’ll remember for powerful bass, light effects, and the feeling that you’re part of one of the most exciting winter electronic music festivals in Japan, with the option to complete your stay by choosing ideal accommodation for festival visitors around Makuhari.
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Sources:
- GMO Sonic 2026 official site – basic information about the festival, date, and venue
- That Festival Site – GMO Sonic 2026 announcement and publication of set lists and daily performance schedules
- That Eric Alper – article about GMO Sonic’s return to Japan and the lineup of world DJ stars
- Secret Tokyo – text about GMO SONIC 2026 being held at Makuhari Messe and the festival profile
- Makuhari Messe and Makuhari Event Hall – official sites with information about the venue, capacity, and intended use
- Japan-guide and Japan National Tourism Organization – tourist information about Makuhari, the city of Chiba, and transport connections to Tokyo

Everything you need to know about tickets for festival GMO Sonic

+ Where to find tickets for festival GMO Sonic?

+ How to choose the best spot to enjoy the GMO Sonic festival

+ When is the best time to buy tickets for the GMO Sonic festival

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+ Are tickets for festival GMO Sonic purchased through partners safe?

+ Are there tickets for festival GMO Sonic in family sections?

+ What to do if tickets for festival GMO Sonic are sold out?

+ Can I buy tickets for festival GMO Sonic at the last minute?

+ What information do I need to buy tickets for the GMO Sonic festival

+ How to find tickets for specific sections at the GMO Sonic festival

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2 hours ago, Author: Culture & events desk

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GMO Sonic

Chiba
Saturday 17.01. 2026 16:00
Makuhari Event Hall, 2 Chome Nakase, Mihama Ward

Culture & events desk

The editorial team for arts, music and events brings together journalists and volunteers who have spent years living alongside stages, clubs, festivals and all those spaces where art and audience meet. Our writing comes from long-standing journalistic experience and genuine involvement in cultural life: from endless evenings in concert halls, from conversations with musicians before and after performances, from improvised press corners at festivals, from premieres that end with long discussions in theatre corridors, but also from small, intimate events that attract only a handful of curious people yet remain engraved in their memory for a lifetime.

In our newsroom write people who know what a stage looks like when the lights go out, how the audience breathes while waiting for the first note, and what happens behind the curtain while instruments or microphones are still being adjusted. Many of us have spent years standing on stage ourselves, participating in programme organisation, volunteering at festivals or helping artist friends present their projects. This experience from both sides of the stage gives us the ability to view events not merely as items in a calendar, but as living encounters between creators and audiences.

Our stories do not stop at who performed and how many people attended. We are interested in the processes that precede every appearance before the public: how the idea for a concert or festival is born, what it takes for a comedy to reach its audience, how much time is spent preparing an exhibition or a multimedia project. In our texts we try to convey the atmosphere of the space, the energy of the performers and the mood of the audience, as well as the context in which all this happens – why a certain performance is important, how it fits into the broader music or art scene, and what remains after the venue empties.

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